2017 Toyota 86 Coupe

Incentives Provided by TMS

Financing Offer : 0.0% APR for 48 months on select Toyota 86 models

* Disclaimer(s)

Truth in Lending Act Disclosure:
Down payment will vary with APR and credit. For example, 0.0% APR with $2,500 down payment provides for 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1000 financed for qualified buyers. 0.0% for a term of 36 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $27.78 per $1000 financed.
0.9% for a term of 60 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $17.05 per $1000 financed.
1.9% for a term of 72 months corresponds to a monthly cost of $14.71 per $1000 financed. The rates described are for estimation purposes only; you may not be able to finance at this rate.

Incentives Provided by TMS

Military Offer : $1,000 offer on select Toyota models

* Disclaimer(s)

Military cash allowance on all new Toyota vehicles. This rebate applies to active duty U.S. military personnel as well as to personnel on inactive Reserve status. Eligible up to one year from honorable discharge. Incentive may be applied to households. The rebate must be used to reduce a contract with Southeast Toyota Finance. -- Offer provided by Southeast Toyota Finance

Reviews

Driving Impression

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The Toyota 86 isn’t about power or straight-line speed, which is a good thing. The 2.0-liter engine is not a turbo (so far), so the zero-to-sixty time of about 6.7 seconds is not exactly neck-snapping. Still, it’s quick enough for fun, especially considering that cornering is what the car is meant for. More specifically, tossing it around corners.

The boxer engine is mounted low and rearward, for good balance. We got seat time in a model with the available lowering springs, lighter alloy wheels, stiffer rear anti-roll bar, and TRD exhaust system, but we didn’t feel much overall improvement. The lowered suspension reduced lean in corners, but it wasn’t that much to start with; and it bounced more over bumps. But we liked the wheels and exhaust system. And if you’re really into drifting the car around corners, you’ll want that bigger rear sway bar.

The electric power steering is precise, well-weighted and quick, but it doesn’t have much feel, making it not very communicative. The rear tires are low rolling resistance, a bit harder, so they don’t have a lot of grip, part of Toyota’s plan to make the 86 fun to toss in slow corners. But they don’t break away at the limit, they just hang there. So the more you toss the car, the more confident you become in it. It feels light and nimble, and is very neutral.

What makes the 86 exceptional is that this aggressive driving isn’t something you can do with a higher-powered or bigger car. A Mustang is well balanced too, but if you try this on the street with a Mustang, you’re risking too much.

Still, the Toyota 86 is less tail-happy than the Subaru BR-Z. The chassis is a bit stiffer, the shocks and springs are stiffer in front to sharpen turn-in and softer in the rear to give more grip to the rear end in corners. Meanwhile, the Sport mode has been changed to Track, to allow the car to drift a bit more before the stability control saves things. What this all means is that it’s a bit harder to pitch the 86 into a drift, but a bit easier to control it when you do.

The high powerband of the engine is more fun with the manual transmission. It’s happiest up there at 5000 rpm. It’s easy enough to keep it there with the paddle-shifting automatic, but it gets a bit monotonous flipping those paddles all the time. The lack of torque at low rpm is more frustrating in the automatic.

The brakes offer good feel and slow down the car well enough, and in half a dozen hard laps on the track there was no fade. And while we’re on the track, a discordant note: don’t be fooled by all the reviews that toss around the word tossable. On the track, in faster curves where you ease the steering wheel instead of throwing it, the 86 still understeers.

Walk Around

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The Toyota 86 has classic proportions of a long hood and short tail, with a modern aero look. The roof sweeps up and dives down in a graceful arc that meets the rear fenders and stubby deck. It’s long, low, and sleek, yet something seems missing that keeps it from being as stylish as it could be. Maybe it’s the simple surfaces with no real sculpting.

The 86 is different from its parent Scion FR-S, with its wider and more complex grille, with LED headlamps, driving lights, and turn signals. Flared front fenders bulge upward, with new gills that create a vortex to improve airflow. At the rear, there’s a fresh bumper, LED taillamps, and a diffuser with one more slat to improve downforce. The alloy wheels with twisted spokes are also a change from the Scion.

Interior Overview

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The cabin is basic, handsome, and built well. It’s consistent with the car’s design ethic of form following function. The upholstery is one-tone and the gauges are located squarely in front of the driver. The diameter of the steering wheel is about one inch smaller than it was in the Scion, for a sportier feel.

Trim-wise, the plastic bits flow in clean lines with carbon-look accents, while the dash and door panels feature synthetic suede with silver stitching.

The front seats are excellent, comfortable and well-bolstered with good hip room. There’s enough headroom in front drivers taller than six feet. The rear bench seat is for kids, and folds flat for packages. The trunk is large; Subaru likes to say it can hold enough for a track day: four wheels with tires and a toolbox.

You can’t clearly hear the exhaust note in the cabin, even though it’s piped in. Wind and road noise takes over at 70 miles per hour.

Summary

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The modest power is matched to the goal of this well-engineered and affordable sports car, but if lack of oomph is a dealbreaker, wait for the turbo. You won’t find a car that’s easier to play with, in the twisties. Go for the manual 6-speed gearbox.

Sam Moses wrote this review, with staff reports by The Car Connection.